FROM VENEZUELA TO CHINA, TURKEY SEEKS BROADER GLOBAL ROLE

[beijingwalker]

FROM VENEZUELA TO CHINA, TURKEY SEEKS BROADER GLOBAL ROLE
Turkey has a long-standing relationship with Venezuela.
BY SETH J. FRANTZMAN

FEBRUARY 11, 2019 05:54

Turkey was one of the first countries to side strongly with Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro after the US recognized Juan Guaidó as interim president last month. Turkey is also one of the first countries to strongly condemn China’s policies toward its Uighur Muslim population.

On Saturday, Turkey’s foreign ministry released a statement condemning China and calling on the UN to “take effective measures in order to bring to an end to this human tragedy in Xinjiang,” China’s northwestern province. “It is no longer a secret that more than one million Uighur Turks incurring arbitrary arrests are subjected to torture and political brainwashing in internment camps and prisons,” Turkey’s foreign ministry said.

Turkey has now positioned itself in the middle of two important global issues. It knows this and has indicated as much in its Anadolu media, which is pro-government. In a special infographic, the channel shows how Turkey has taken a major role in the Venezuela crisis, supporting Maduro. It aligns with Russia, China, Cuba, Mexico and other countries.

Turkey has a close relationship with Venezuela’s current regime. In mid-January, Ankara hosted Tareck El Aissami, vice president of Venezuela. On January 24, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that “I believe that the Venezuelan people will stand by the leader they have elected if Maduro stands tall and continues down the path he believes in.”

Maduro traveled to Turkey last year, where he feasted at a famous restaurant and announced “joint ventures” with Turkey regarding Venezuela’s gold. At the time, Bloomberg news postulated that this might relate to Iran’s efforts to avoid sanctions and Turkey’s drift away from the West.

But Ankara has shown in the China statements that it is not merely drifting away from the West on the Venezuela issue, it is also positioning itself as a champion of Islamic and Turkish rights by seeking to highlight the Muslim and Turkish aspect of the Uighur issue in China. This has far-reaching ramifications because Turkey’s economy likely needs Chinese investment at this critical time. Yet, Turkey wants to show that it has a global role to play and an independent one. It may side with China on the Venezuela issue, but not on the Uighur issue.

It is part of Turkey’s more robust foreign policy in the wake of the wind down of the Syrian civil war. Turkey believes it helped pressure US President Donald Trump to withdraw from Syria and Ankara says it will launch a new military operation in Syria soon. Turkey has skirted Iran sanctions and received an exemption from the US. Turkey is also seeking to buy both the S-400 and Patriot missile air defense systems, making it the only NATO country to have the Russian and US system. And Turkey is increasingly active in the energy sector in the Black Sea and Mediterranean. At a speech on February 9, the Turkish president said “those without a presence on the ground cannot have a seat at the table.”

He emphasized Turkey’s role as a shipbuilder but he was likely hinting at other roles. Turkey is developing a port in the Sudan and is widening its reach in Africa. It seeks a global role from Venezuela to China, involving connections to Russia and African states and a greater role in Syria.

https://www.jpost.com/International/From-Venezuela-to-China-Turkey-seeks-broader-global-role-580293

 

[beijingwalker]

This clown doesn't seem to know where his place should be. With GDP size smaller than a Chinese province and he wants to be a world leader at China's expense, China will put him in his place soon.

 

[Tshering22]

His foreign policy is very confusing. Erdogan seems to be all over the place.

On one hand he wants to cooperate with Russia strategically, on the other hand he's condemning Russia's annexation of Crimea and says that Crimean Tatars are against Putin (Crimean Tatars are super pro-Putin and pro-Russia).

Then he tries to build commercial ties with China on one side, and then his foreign minister goes nuts about the whole Uyghur issue.

Then he comes to India and warmly expand commercial ties between the two countries which is welcomed. Just when some major deal is in discussion, he and his ministers start interfering in our internal matters and eliminates all the good offices he gained in the past one or two days before his India visit.

Now on one hand he has rapproached with the US over the whole US pastor issue, and then suddenly he support Maduro instead of the NATO line.

I tried asking some Turkish friends here and in my personal circle. But no one has given any conclusive answer as even they are confused.

Honestly.... I am confused.

 

[beijingwalker]

His foreign policy is very confusing. Erdogan seems to be all over the place.

On one hand he wants to cooperate with Russia strategically, on the other hand he's condemning Russia's annexation of Crimea and says that Crimean Tatars are against Putin (Crimean Tatars are super pro-Putin and pro-Russia).

Then he tries to build commercial ties with China on one side, and then his foreign minister goes nuts about the whole Uyghur issue.

Then he comes to India and warmly expand commercial ties between the two countries which is welcomed. Just when some major deal is in discussion, he and his ministers start interfering in our internal matters and eliminates all the good offices he gained in the past one or two days before his India visit.

Now on one hand he has rapproached with the US over the whole US pastor issue, and then suddenly he support Maduro instead of the NATO line.

I tried asking some Turkish friends here and in my personal circle. But no one has given any conclusive answer as even they are confused.

Honestly.... I am confused.

Two possibilities, first, he delibrately picks on all the world powers to get global limelight with the hope of gaining popularity at home as a father figure fulfilling the national ambition of restoring the old Ottoman glory. second, he just lost his sanity.

 

[SBUS-CXK]

His foreign policy is very confusing. Erdogan seems to be all over the place.

On one hand he wants to cooperate with Russia strategically, on the other hand he's condemning Russia's annexation of Crimea and says that Crimean Tatars are against Putin (Crimean Tatars are super pro-Putin and pro-Russia).

Then he tries to build commercial ties with China on one side, and then his foreign minister goes nuts about the whole Uyghur issue.

Then he comes to India and warmly expand commercial ties between the two countries which is welcomed. Just when some major deal is in discussion, he and his ministers start interfering in our internal matters and eliminates all the good offices he gained in the past one or two days before his India visit.

Now on one hand he has rapproached with the US over the whole US pastor issue, and then suddenly he support Maduro instead of the NATO line.

I tried asking some Turkish friends here and in my personal circle. But no one has given any conclusive answer as even they are confused.

Honestly.... I am confused.

You know. Turkey has always had some misunderstandings about its own power.

 

[Tshering22]

Two possibilities, first, he delibrately picks on all the world powers to get global limelight with the hope of gaining popularity at home as a father figure fulfilling the national ambition of restoring the old Ottoman glory. second, he just lost his sanity.

But if he keeps finding an axe and smashing his foot on it, Turkey is going to end up getting a lot of flak. It is a good country with smart young people; My personal experience with Turkish people has been very positive. They are rational, hungry for knowledge and happy with life when it comes to their position as a strong regional influence in the Eurasian region.

Erdogan despite his economic policy successes, is only undoing his own efforts since 2003.

Limelight isn't going to get him very far if he ends up ticking off everyone from Trump to Putin to Xi to Modi.

 

[beijingwalker]

Two possibilities, first, he delibrately picks on all the world powers to get global limelight with the hope of gaining popularity at home as a father figure fulfilling the national ambition of restoring the old Ottoman glory. second, he just lost his sanity.

Either way, he will lead the nation into a disastrous future.

 

[Kamil_baku]

i can tell you this. In Islam, You have to speak up for things that you believe.. RTE strongly believes it and mentioned it several times. Turkish people always warn things without anger. They think the other side should understand them. an example, would be when just recently Iran and Russia said they will attack Idlib and Turkish president said that Turkey will not let Syrians alone in Idlib. After the meeting, they met in a week and came to agreement.
I think Turkish president saw that from one side if he doesnt speak up, he might loose so many of his nationalistic supporters who care about Uygurs. Him not speaking about him, recently bring a lot of concerns in Turkey who trust him.
On the other hand, He want to warn Chine that he should take it serous as Turkey might intervene there even though it doesnt really want. I think, Chine instead of atracting Turkey doing this to Turkish people is stupid.

 

[beijingwalker]

i can tell you this. In Islam, You have to speak up for things that you believe.. RTE strongly believes it and mentioned it several times.

Do you mean Turkey is the only true Muslim country on this planet?

 

[Offshore]

His foreign policy is very confusing. Erdogan seems to be all over the place.

On one hand he wants to cooperate with Russia strategically, on the other hand he's condemning Russia's annexation of Crimea and says that Crimean Tatars are against Putin (Crimean Tatars are super pro-Putin and pro-Russia).

Then he tries to build commercial ties with China on one side, and then his foreign minister goes nuts about the whole Uyghur issue.

Then he comes to India and warmly expand commercial ties between the two countries which is welcomed. Just when some major deal is in discussion, he and his ministers start interfering in our internal matters and eliminates all the good offices he gained in the past one or two days before his India visit.

Now on one hand he has rapproached with the US over the whole US pastor issue, and then suddenly he support Maduro instead of the NATO line.

I tried asking some Turkish friends here and in my personal circle. But no one has given any conclusive answer as even they are confused.

Honestly.... I am confused.

don't be.
when you small and weak, but want to stay relevant in international arena, just bark around, and make some noise.

 

[beijingwalker]

On the other hand, He want to warn Chine that he should take it serous as Turkey might intervene there even though it doesnt really want. I think, Chine instead of atracting Turkey doing this to Turkish people is stupid.

Is Xinjiang a Turkish state ? And how will Turkey plan to intervene in China? Militarily or economicallcy? or by terrorism?

 

[Offshore]

i can tell you this. In Islam, You have to speak up for things that you believe.. RTE strongly believes it and mentioned it several times. Turkish people always warn things without anger. They think the other side should understand them. an example, would be when just recently Iran and Russia said they will attack Idlib and Turkish president said that Turkey will not let Syrians alone in Idlib. After the meeting, they met in a week and came to agreement.
I think Turkish president saw that from one side if he doesnt speak up, he might loose so many of his nationalistic supporters who care about Uygurs. Him not speaking about him, recently bring a lot of concerns in Turkey who trust him.
On the other hand, He want to warn Chine that he should take it serous as Turkey might intervene there even though it doesnt really want. I think, Chine instead of atracting Turkey doing this to Turkish people is stupid.

kid, you are way overestimated yourself.

 

[CAN_TR]

The reason why he talks NOW about the Uighur "issue" is because of pressure from the Population (Nationalist side) otherwise he would stay calm.

 

[Kamil_baku]

don't be.
when you small and weak, but want to stay relevant in international arena, just bark around, and make some noise.

if it was mall and not relevant, your foreign minitery wouldnt show a video the next day with the vidio of person living alive which angered Turkish side. If you produce army technology, you can confront the country in anywhere in the world.

kid, you are way overestimated yourself.

and you Chinese overestimating yourself... You are rich because of world people, if one day they decide not to buy from you, you will end about culture food of eating insects..

 

[beijingwalker]

if it was mall and not relevant, your foreign minitery wouldnt show a video the next day with the vidio of person living alive which angered Turkish side. If you produce army technology, you can confront the country in anywhere in the world.


and you Chinese overestimating yourself... You are rich because of world people, if one day they decide not to buy from you, you will end about culture food of eating insects..

We posted the video is to debunk that pathetic lie, not because China is afraid of you and with relevance to Tureky , it's impossible for us to overestimate ourselves.